Complete in Christ Colossians Colossians 2 Freedom Is

Complete in Christ: Colossians

Colossians 2 • • Freedom Is Found In Jesus Christ (1 -7) Freedom From Worldly Ideas (8) Freedom From Spiritual Death (9 -15) Freedom From False Religion (16 -23) – Requirements of the Law of Moses – Arbitrary Religious Practices That Appear Wise

Freedom From False Religion • Freedom From the Requirements of the Law of Moses (vs. 16 -17) – Dietary Requirements: Food or Drink – Days of Observance: Annual, Monthly, & Weekly • The Requirement of the Law Are Only A Shadow. – They Aren’t Lasting, Solid, or Substantial. – They Affirm The Existence of Something Superior. • They’ve Been Nailed To The Cross (vs. 14)

Freedom From False Religion • Freedom From the Arbitrary Man-Made Religious Practices of the Day (vs. 18) • “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, ” – Colossians 2: 18

Freedom From False Religion • Christians Reject A Religion of Self-Abasement. – We practice a religion of self-control. • Christians Reject A Religion of Angel Worship. – We practice a religion of service to God. • Christians Reject A Religion of Private Visions. – We practice a religion built on the public ministry of Jesus. • Christians Reject A Religion of Pride & Carnal Thinking. – We practice a religion of humility & spiritual thinking.

Dysfunctional Religion • Abandons Jesus As The Authority For Our Doctrine & Practice – Vs. 19 a • Disrupts The Bonds of Unity – Vs. 19 b • Brings Unhealthy Growth – Vs. 19 c (Matthew 7: 26)

Discussion: How Does Healthy Growth From God Take Place? • 1 Corinthians 3: 6 • Colossians 1: 9 -12 • Romans 10: 14 -17

Paul’s Call To Action Error In Thinking Produced Error In Practice Sound Thinking Produced Freedom In Christ Paul’s Premise: “If you have died with Christ…” Paul’s Argument: You are not ruled by the “commandments and teachings of men” • Paul’s Insight: False religion often has “the appearance of wisdom” but is of “no value against fleshly indulgence. ” • •

Paul’s Warnings In Colossians 2 DANGER (2: 4) No One Deceive You (2: 8) No One Take You Captive (2: 16) No One Act As Your Judge (2: 18) No One Defraud You APPEAL • Persuasive Words • Philosophy, Deceit, Tradition of Men, Elementary World • Traditional Religious Law • Appearance of Wisdom PROTECTION • Stable Faith in Christ 2: 5 -7 • The Nature & Work of Christ In Us 2: 9 -15 • The Substance of Christ 2: 17 • The Effective Leadership of Christ 2: 19 -23

Transforming Our Daily Decisions • Sound Thinking Produced Freedom In Christ • Sound Thinking Produces Faithful Practices – Chapter 3 & 4

Complete in Christ: Colossians

Our Class Goals 1. To understand appreciate the preeminence of Christ. 2. To guard against worldly arguments which undermine Christ. 3. To elevate our thinking towards heavenly blessings in Christ. 4. To transform daily decisions in the light of the leadership of Christ.

Our Theme: Complete In Christ • “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. ” – Colossians 1: 28 • “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ” – Colossians 2: 9 -10